Shane Warne’s father Keith mourns the loss of “a loving and caring son”; Allan Border, Mark Taylor, Merv Hughes, Nasser Hussain and Brian Lara take part in a special panel on stage; Sir Elton John, Chris Martin, Robbie Williams and Ed Sheeran perform musical tributes via video link
Tens of thousands of people gathered at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday for a tribute to legendary Australian cricketer Shane Warne, with Sir Elton John, former England captain Nasser Hussain and Warne’s family paying moving tributes.
The former legplayer, considered one of the greatest cricketers of all time, died aged 52 earlier this month of a suspected heart attack while on holiday in Koh Samui, Thailand.
A private funeral was held for Warne’s closest friends and family in Melbourne last week, but all were invited to Wednesday’s televised funeral where his father Keith mourned the loss of “a loving and caring son” and the exes. teammates remembered a fierce competitor on the field and a mischievous soul off it.
A host of other athletes, Hollywood actors and musicians, including Kylie Minogue, Hugh Jackman and Greg Norman, also offered video tributes to Warne.
Among the music artists, Sir Elton John joined via video link from the US, singing ‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me’, while Coldplay frontman Chris Martin performed ‘Yellow’. , Robbie Williams sang ‘Angels’ and Ed Sheeran performed ‘Thinking Out Loud’.
As the state service got underway, with chants echoing from the MCG, Greta Bradman, the granddaughter of Sir Donald Bradman, named with Warne as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Century in 2000, sang the Australian national anthem.
Then, to round out the night, after moving speeches by Warne’s three children, Summer, Jackson and Brooke, and with Frank Sinatra’s classic ‘My Way’ playing in the background, the new Shane Warne Stand, formerly the Great Southern Stand , was officially presented.
Keith Warne, Shane’s father, was the first to speak, saying: “Friday, March 4, 2002, the darkest day in our family’s life. It was the day our son was suddenly and tragically taken from us.” .
“The family lost a beloved son, a loving brother to Jason and a devoted father to Brooke, Jackson and Summer. And the world lost a much-loved cricket legend whose exploits on and off the cricket pitch will go down in history forever.” forever. .
“Looking forward to a future without Shane is inconceivable, but we take comfort in knowing that Shane encompassed more in his life of 52, five months and 19 days than most people would in two lifetimes.”
Keith added: “We are grateful that the world loved our son as we did and thankfully he touched so many lives in so many ways.
“Shane said of himself ‘I smoked, drank and played a little cricket’.
“My friend, your mother and I cannot imagine a life without you. You have been taken away too soon and our hearts are broken. Thank you for everything you did for us. And for being such a loving and caring son.
“Rest in peace. I love you mom and dad.”
Mark Howard introduced a panel featuring former cricket greats, Australian trio Allan Border, Mark Taylor and Merv Hughes, along with England’s Nasser Hussain and West Indies’ Brian Lara.
When asked to describe Warne in one word, Border used “genius”, and former Australia captain Taylor said “genuine”. Hughes drew some laughs from the assembled crowd when he said “dead bogan”, while former England captain Hussain referred to Warne as an “artist” and Windies heavy hitter Lara referred to his old rival as “The King”.
The quintet was also asked what they would choose to say if Warne were here now and given the opportunity.
An emotional Border said, “Thank you for reinvigorating my captaincy towards the end of my time. I was lucky enough to spend two years with Shane and I would only thank you for that.”
Hughes added: “Thank you for being a great teammate. One of the most loyal people – people who don’t know him think that’s the way he did in Test Cricket but it’s the other way around. He did what he did because of the way he be.
“A super guy and I feel sorry for the people of Australia who never met him.”
Speaking as part of the panel, Hussain also recalled a famous battle between himself and Warne in a one-day final between England and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1999.
“I didn’t relish playing Shane. He was a great bowler, but also a great sled,” Hussain said. “And seemed to wait for me to come out.
“We were delighted to be in a final, we were usually in the hotel, to be honest, and he had been sledding me all day.
